Soot blower for tube bundle in pressurized enclosure

Abstract

A soot blower for use in a tubular heat exchanger, gasifier or reactor that is installed in parallel alignment with a bundle of elongate tubes therein. The soot blower is adapted to eject a jet of steam radially over the outer surface of said tubes to remove deposits therefrom. The steam jet may be moved axially to progressively clean the length of the tubes and the operation of the soot blower may be activated or terminated without interfering with fluid flow over or through said tubes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A soot blower for removal of deposits from the outside surface of a bundle of elongate tubes, said soot blower comprising an elongate outer tube lying parallel to the tubes of said tube bundle and having an apertured end and a closed end, an inlet duct for cooling fluid connected to one end of the outer tube and an outlet duct for cooling fluid connected to the opposite end of the outer tube, and intermediate tube positioned concentrically within the outer tube to define an annular cooling space connected to the inlet and outlet ducts, radial passageways extending between the intermediate and outer tubes to bridge the annular cooling space therebetween, a central soot blower tube axially movable within the intermediate tube having an inlet end thereof traversing the apertured end of the outer tube, a source of cleaning fluid connected to the inlet end of the soot blower tube, and radial openings in the soot blower tube adapted to coincide with the radial passageways that extend between the intermediate and outer tubes to project cleaning fluid radially therethrough when the soot blower tube is moved axially. 
     
     
       2. A soot blower as defined in claim 1 wherein radial passageways between the intermediate and outer tubes are positioned at a plurality of axially spaced locations along the longitudinal axis of the tube. 
     
     
       3. A soot blower as defined in claim 2 wherein openings in the soot blower tube are spaced along the longitudinal axis of the tube. 
     
     
       4. A soot blower as defined in claim 3 wherein the axial spacing of openings in the central soot blower tube are at least two times the axial spacing of radial passageways that extend between the intermediate tube and the outer tube to provide sequential engagement of the openings and the passageways. 
     
     
       5. A soot blower as defined in claim 4 including an annular sealing means surrounding the soot blower tube and adapted to bridge the space between the soot blower tube and the intermediate tube to prevent leakage of fluid into the space therebetween. 
     
     
       6. A soot blower as defined in claim 5 wherein the annular sealing means comprises a split ring that extends around the soot blower tube on axially spaced sides pf the radial openings therein. 
     
     
       7. A soot blower as defined in claim 6 including an annular baffle connected to the end portion of the central soot blower tube adapted to slidably abut the inner surface of the outer tube when the central tube is moved axially. 
     
     
       8. A soot blower as defined in claim 7 including vent means in the outer tube adjacent the end of the intermediate tube that permits the drainage of fluid therefrom.